Engine heating device

ABSTRACT

An auxiliary or preheater fueled by liquified propane gas or the like is temporarily connected to the coolant system of an engine for heating the coolant thereof. The heater includes a core heated by the propane through which the coolant from the engine system circulates by convection.

United States Patent 1191 Baillar eon [4 Se t. 10 1974 g P a ENGINE HEATING DEVICE 2,247,859 7/1941 P1111611 l22/DlG. 11 2,580,033 121951 L 111 1 1. 122 265 x 1 Invento Frank Balllargefm 2,616,412 11i1952 BZifuS.....f. 122i25o x Longlac, Omar), Canada 2,695,603 11/1954 Williams 122/250 3,192,916 7/1965 Vitkay 126/344 [22] 1972 3,709,198 1/1973 Williams 126/344 [21] Appl. No.: 283,704

Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague 52 US. (:1. 122/265, 126/344 Agen" Firm-3' [51] Int. Cl. F22b 17/00 58 Field 61 Search 122/DIG. 11, 250 R, 262, [57] ABSTRACT 122/265; 126/344 An auxlliary or preheater fueled by liqulfied propane gas or the like is temporarily connected to the coolant [56] References Cited system of an engine for heating the coolant thereof.

UNITED STATES PATENTS The heater includes a core heated by the propane through which the coolant from the engine system cir- 1 21 922 1 122/265 culates by convection 1:908:14) 5/1933 116mm 122/DIG. 11 8 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures B h i- '1 5 1 1, 4l 4 i, .10 24 l 1' 2a i ENGINE HEATING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the burner component per se.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the core element.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation of the device with the outer Difficulty is experienced in starting heavy diesel and 5 casing shown in phantom.

gas powered machinery when operating in exposed locations and under severe climatic conditions. If enclosures or auxiliary sources of heat can be provided then the starting function of course is facilitated but in many circumstances, particularly in the northern regions, such facilities are not readily available so that starting becomes extremely difiicult particularly during the winter months.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a portable heating unit which may be fueled by propane or the like and which incudes a core element detachable connected to the coolant system of the engine of the machinery so that the coolant can be heated prior to starting, circulation of course being by convection. Once the coolant has been heated a sufficient amount, the engines are readily started by conventional means whereupon the heater can be detached from the coolant system.

The principal object and essence of the invention is therefore to provide an auxiliary or preheating device which can be detachably secured or connected to the coolant system of an engine and operated remotely therefrom so that the coolant can be heated prior to the engine being started.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which reduces hazards normally attendant upon heating devices used in close proximity to the engines inasmuch as the present device can be situated some distance from the en-' gine and connected to the coolant system by flexible hoses.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described in which the burner component is readily ignited and, once ignited, can be slid back into the casing wherein it is completely enclosedand protected from severe weather conditions.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is self-contained and portable and can be used to assist instarting a plurality of engines in sequence as desired.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is simple in construction, economical in use, and otherwise well suited to the purpose for which it is designed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of the device but tipped slightly to show the underside thereof.

FIG. 5 is a section substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary front elevation showing the latch element holding the burner component in position.

FIG. 7 is a front elevation, partially schematic showing an alternative arrangement for the location of the burner component.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference character 10 illustrates an outer casing preferably made of sheet metal and being cylindrical when viewed in plan. This outer casing is provided with a closed, domed top 11 having a plurality of, burner component exhaust apertures 12 around the upper side adjacent the domed portion 1 1. A circular base 13 supports the casing 10 by means of a plurality of vertical straps 14 extending upwardly therefrom, thus defining air intake means 15 as clearly shown. The base 16 of the casing 10 is provided with air intake slots 17 to allow entrance of combustion air as will hereinafter be described.

An access door 18 is provided through the wall of the casing 10 being hinged thereto by means of hinges l9 and secured in closed position by means of latch 20. In this connection the bottom corner 21 of the door is cut away to allow a flexible hose 22 to exit and be connected to a source of fuel such as a propane tank or the like (not illustrated).

Situated within the casing 10 is a core element collectively designated 23. This core element comprises a pair of vertically situated spaced and parallel header tanks 24 and 25 situated within an enclosure collectively designated 26. The enclosure includes a pair of spaced and parallel side plates 27 and a base 28 with a pair of inwardly extending flanges or ledges 29 midway between the upper and lower edges of side plates 27 and a pair of inwardly extending upper flanges 30 all of which are clearly shown in FIG. 5 and the two header tanks slip between flanges 30 and 29 and rest upon the latter.

Conduits collectively designated 31 extend between the header tanks are connected thereto. The conduits include a lower set 32 which inclines upwardly from one header tank 25 to the other header tank 24 and an upper set of conduits 33 which incline upwardly form the other header tank 24 to the one header tank 25 clearly shown in FIG. 4.

An inlet nipple 34 extends from the header tank 25 adjacent the base thereof and an outlet nipple 35 extends from the header tank 25 adjacent the upper side thereof and when the core element 23 is inserted within the casing 10, these nipples extend through apertures in the wall of the casing 10 and are clamped thereto by means of clamping members 36. The rear or other side of the core element rests upon a support strap 37 extending upwardly from the base 16 of the casing 10.

The nipples 34 and .35 are adapted to be secured to the coolant system of an engine (not illustrated) by length of flexible hose (not illustrated) and in this connection quick connect couplings can be provided and which are conventional.

The side plates 27 of the enclosure 26 extends down wardly below the header tanks 24 and 25 and the conduits 31 and a burner component collectively designated 38 is detachably engaged within the portion of the enclosure defined by the lower portions of the side plates 27 and the base 28.

This burner includes a tube 39 having jet outlets in the form of slots 40 formed therein and a perforated air intake screen 41 surrounds the tube39 adjacent one end thereof. A conduit 42 extends from the one end of the tube 39 and is connected to the aforementioned flexible hose 22 which in turn is connected to asource of propane or the like (not illustrated). Primary air holes 41A are formed through the wall of the tube near the said one end thereof and a venturi orifice 41B is also provided at this location.

An aperture or cut away portion 43 is formed within an end wall 44 of the enclosure which extends between the side plates 27 and the tube 39 of the burner component 38 engages within this aperture so that the tube normally resides within the enclosure. A lug 45 extends upwardly fromzthe inner end 46 of the tube 39 and a latch 47 extends across the upper portion of the aperture 43 when the latch is in the closed position as shown in FIG. 6. The latch is raised to. the open position shown in phantom in FIG. 6 when it is desired to insert or withdraw the burner component completely" from the enclosure 26. However, once inserted with the latch 47 in the closed position, the burnerv component is capable of limited endwise movement so that it can be moved outwardly in the direction of arrow 48 until the lug 45 strikes the latch 47 which prevents any further outward movement. However, this outward moveinen is sufficient to enable the burner to be ignited whereupon it can then be moved inwardly to the position shown in FIG. 4. It is to be understood that the access door 18 is open during this igniting process.

Air deflectors 49 are situated upon the base 16 of the enclosure over the air intake slots or apertures 17 and assist in directing combustion air around the burner tube 40. V

In operation, the burner tube 39'is ignited by withdrawing same from the enclosure whereupon it is re-- placed within the enclosure and the access door 18 is closed. The nipples 34 and 35 are connected to the coolant system of the engine to be started and the flame from the burner tube impinges upon the-conduits 31 provided in this embodiment. However, the remainder of the structure is identical and has not been shown in this view.

Various modifications may be constructed or performed within the scope of the inventive concept disclosed. Therefore what has been set forth is intended to illustrate such concept and is not for the purpose of limiting protection to any herein particularly described embodiment thereof.

WhatI claim as my invention is:

1. A heater adapted to be fueled by liquid propane gas and the like and to be detachably connected to the cooling system of an engine;

comprising in combination an outer casing, a core element within said outer casing, means to support said core element in said outer casing,

means on said core element adapted to detachably secure same to the coolant system of the associated engine,

a burner component in said casing and below said core element,

said core element including an enclosure,

a pair of substantially vertically situated header tanks in spaced and parallel relationship within said enclosure,

and a plurality of coolant carrying conduits extending between said tanks,

said enclosure including an aperture within one wall thereof through which said burner component extends in sliding relationship, latch means over said aperture,

and a lug on said inner end of said burner component engageable with said latch means when closed thereby limiting the sliding movement of said burner component in one direction.

2. The heater according to claim I in which said conduits include a lower set and an upper set, the lower set thus heating coolant therewithin which rises due to convection and circulates back to the coolant system of the engine. When the coolant has been heated sufficiently, the heater can be disconnected from the engine which can then be started in the normal way.

The various hoses (not illustrated) may be coiled around the casing 10 and supported by means of hooked elements 50 secured to the outer surface of the casing and a carrying handle 51 is provided on the upper side of the domed top portion 11 thereof.

Additional air may be provided by vertically situated air inlet slots 52 shown in phantom in FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative arrangement in which the burner component 38A includes the burner tube 39A and a portion 53 which angulates upwardly at approximately 105 from the horizontal to exit adjacent the upper side 54 of the relatively large access door 18A incling upwardly from one header tank towards the other header tank, the upper set of conduits inclining upwardly from said other header tank towards said one header tank.

3. The heater according to claim 1 in which said enclosure extends below .said header tanks and said conduits, said burner component being situated within said enclosure but below said header tanks and said conduits, and means to detachably secure said burner component within said enclosure for limited endwise movement therein whereby said burner component may be partially withdrawn for ignition purposes.

4. The heater according to claim 2 in which said enclosure extends below said header tanks and said conduits, said burner component being situated within said enclosure but below said header tanks and said conduits, and means to detachably secure said burner component within said enclosure for limited endwise movement therein whereby said burner component may be partially withdrawn for ignition purposes.

5. The heater according to claim 1 in which said outer casing includes a core element access door in the wall thereof and support means within said casing to receive and support said core element,

said core element including an inlet and an outlet nipple on said one header tank, the walls of said casing being apertured to receive said nipples, means engageable with said nipples to clamp said core element to the wall of said casing, air intake means at the base of said casing, burner component exhaust outlet means adjacent the top of said casing, and air deflecting means within the base of said casing to channel air up and around said burner component.

6. The heater according to claim 2 in which said outer casing includes a core element access door in the wall thereof and support means within said casing to receive and support said core element, said core element including an inlet and an outlet nipple on said one header tank, the walls of said casing being apertured to receive said nipples, means engageable with said nipples to clamp said core element to the wall of said casing, air intake means at the base of said casing, burner component exhaust outlet means adjacent the top of said casing, and air deflecting means within the base of said casing to channel air up and around said burner component.

7. The heater according to claim 3 in which said outer casing includes a core element access door in the wall thereof and support means within said casing to receive and support said core element, said core element including an inlet and an outlet nipple on said one ing, air intake means at the base of said casing, burner component exhaust outlet means adjacent the top of said casing, and air deflecting means within the base of said casing to channel air up and around said burner component.

8. The header according to claim 4 in which said outer casing includes a core element access door in the wall thereof and support means within said casing to receive and support said core element, said core element including an inlet and an outlet nipple on said one header tank, the walls of said casing being apertured to receive said nipples, means engageable with said nipples to clamp said core element to the wall of said casing, air intake means at the base of said casing, burner component exhaust outlet means adjacent the top of said casing, and air deflecting means within the base of said casing to channel air up and around said burner component. 

1. A heater adapted to be fueled by liquid propane gas and the like and to be detachably connected to the cooling system of an engine; comprising in combination an outer casing, a core element within said outer casing, means to support said core element in said outer casing, means on said core element adapted to detachably secure same to the coolant system of the associated engine, a burner component in said casing and below said core element, said core element including an enclosure, a pair of substantially vertically situated header tanks in spaced and parallel relationship within said enclosure, and a plurality of coolant carrying conduits extending between said tanks, said enclosure including an aperture within one wall thereof through which said burner component extends in sliding relationship, latch means over said aperture, and a lug on said inner end of said burner component engageable wiTh said latch means when closed thereby limiting the sliding movement of said burner component in one direction.
 2. The heater according to claim 1 in which said conduits include a lower set and an upper set, the lower set incling upwardly from one header tank towards the other header tank, the upper set of conduits inclining upwardly from said other header tank towards said one header tank.
 3. The heater according to claim 1 in which said enclosure extends below said header tanks and said conduits, said burner component being situated within said enclosure but below said header tanks and said conduits, and means to detachably secure said burner component within said enclosure for limited endwise movement therein whereby said burner component may be partially withdrawn for ignition purposes.
 4. The heater according to claim 2 in which said enclosure extends below said header tanks and said conduits, said burner component being situated within said enclosure but below said header tanks and said conduits, and means to detachably secure said burner component within said enclosure for limited endwise movement therein whereby said burner component may be partially withdrawn for ignition purposes.
 5. The heater according to claim 1 in which said outer casing includes a core element access door in the wall thereof and support means within said casing to receive and support said core element, said core element including an inlet and an outlet nipple on said one header tank, the walls of said casing being apertured to receive said nipples, means engageable with said nipples to clamp said core element to the wall of said casing, air intake means at the base of said casing, burner component exhaust outlet means adjacent the top of said casing, and air deflecting means within the base of said casing to channel air up and around said burner component.
 6. The heater according to claim 2 in which said outer casing includes a core element access door in the wall thereof and support means within said casing to receive and support said core element, said core element including an inlet and an outlet nipple on said one header tank, the walls of said casing being apertured to receive said nipples, means engageable with said nipples to clamp said core element to the wall of said casing, air intake means at the base of said casing, burner component exhaust outlet means adjacent the top of said casing, and air deflecting means within the base of said casing to channel air up and around said burner component.
 7. The heater according to claim 3 in which said outer casing includes a core element access door in the wall thereof and support means within said casing to receive and support said core element, said core element including an inlet and an outlet nipple on said one header tank, the walls of said casing being apertured to receive said nipples, means engageable with said nipples to clamp said core element to the wall of said casing, air intake means at the base of said casing, burner component exhaust outlet means adjacent the top of said casing, and air deflecting means within the base of said casing to channel air up and around said burner component.
 8. The header according to claim 4 in which said outer casing includes a core element access door in the wall thereof and support means within said casing to receive and support said core element, said core element including an inlet and an outlet nipple on said one header tank, the walls of said casing being apertured to receive said nipples, means engageable with said nipples to clamp said core element to the wall of said casing, air intake means at the base of said casing, burner component exhaust outlet means adjacent the top of said casing, and air deflecting means within the base of said casing to channel air up and around said burner component. 